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Quote from: Sigismund

Quote from: Sigismund

That is the issue, I think.  I don't see any problem with a Catholic musician giving a concert in a Protestant church, or participating in a secular event that happens to take place in one.  (I am thinking of an Independence Day event that took place every year in the town I grew up in.  They had it in a big ####ian Church just because of the size of the building.)  However, playing music for a Protestant service is not just attending but taking a leadership role in Protestant worship.  I probably take a more permissive view of such things than many here, but I can't see how it would be okay to actually lead Protest worship, ot to lead the music for such a service.

What about the reverse?  Could a Protestant musician play in a Catholic service?  One of the best church musicians I ever know was an Episcopalian.  He played at a Catholic Church, and the music at the Mass he played for was both much better aesthetically and much more orthodox than the folk nonsense at the other Masses.

Matthew,

Why in the world is the name of a particular Protestant church beginning wit P blocked out, when others are not?

Because Traditio has their own pet term for "priest" that they apply to any priest not ordained by a sedevacantist Bishop.

I don't like Traditio, and so I don't allow Traditio-speak on here.

Okay.   :smile:  I would never have guessed that was the reason.

re: trad. priest. I have. Twice. And his answer for my question is no, not sinful. Which is why I am bringing this up because it seems like the members of this site are being misleading.

That is very surprising Vlad. Is this priest independent? I can't imagine SSPX or CMRI priest's agreeing with this position. Even the 4 independant priests I know would disapprove, and say it is not the correct thing to do.

Thank you for the definitions. But can you explain why you think this fits my case.

What I say exactly is: is it sinful to be employed as organist at Protestant church either for or without payment. And answer was no.

The reason I thought it would help you discern why it would be wrong is that if we are taught that a person can be secretary to a Protestant minister, as long as she (practically) has nothing to do with Protestant writings/teachings, why then would it be okay for someone to participate in actual worship with protestants?

The priest I asked is from the FSSP. His sermons and talks do not betray any sympathy to either Protestantism or the Novus Ordo; as I am not a sedevacantist, I trust him as a source of traditional unadulterated Catholic doctrine - that however, is besides the point. I hesitate to mention his name in such a public forum.

s2srea,

I appreciate your posts. However, I'm still not convinced that playing the organ in and of itself constitutes "participation". You mentioned being a part of a band in the past? Perhaps you know then, how detached a musician can be when practicing his art. It isn't a wonder that so many Protestants and atheists are organists at Catholic churches and never convert - they perform their jobs with the utmost perfection, but yet simultaneously with almost mechanical detachment. Many musicians can retreat into something like a state of interior contemplation when playing music.

As far as I am concerned (and as far as my employer and the congregation is concerned), I am just playing what is put in front of me. Sometimes I pay attention to the lyrics when it is a Catholic hymn or at least a hymn not inimical to the Faith. I sing along when practicing, but never at the actual service.

That said, I know that the above paragraph doesn't really defend my position.

This priest said that what I am doing is not sinful, but since he noted my continual obsessing torment over this question, he told me that if I have qualms about it, I should not do it if I feel like I am sinning - despite the fact that it is not intrinsically sinful.